"Don't Let Go Of My Hand"("GROWNISH")

Chapter 7

Ashanti sits curled up in one of the oversized lounge chairs in the campus dorm's common room, her phone in hand. She scrolls aimlessly, trying to distract herself from the whirlwind of emotions she's been feeling all day. The breakup with Malik weighs heavy on her mind, and no amount of social media or memes is enough to take the edge off.

The sound of the door opening catches her attention, and she glances up to see Doug strolling in, his signature laid-back swagger evident as always. He spots her immediately and raises an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of mild curiosity.

Doug: "Yo, Ashanti. You good? You look like you just lost your best friend or something."

Ashanti exhales sharply, shaking her head. "I'm fine," she says, though her voice lacks conviction. "Just... long day."

Doug drops his bag on the couch and flops down in the chair across from her, studying her closely. "Long day, huh? You sure it's just that? 'Cause you're giving off some heavy 'don't talk to me' vibes right now."

She sighs, putting her phone down and rubbing her temples. "Why do you care, Doug?"

He leans back, smirking. "Damn, can't a guy check in? You act like I'm trying to get all up in your business or something."

Ashanti rolls her eyes, but there's a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips despite herself. "You're always in somebody's business."

Doug shrugs, unbothered. "What can I say? It's a talent. But for real, what's up? You look... off."

She hesitates for a moment, debating whether to tell him. But something about his casual demeanor makes it easier to open up. "Me and Malik... we broke up."

Doug raises both eyebrows, looking genuinely surprised. "Oh, damn. For real? What happened?"

Ashanti shrugs, looking down at her hands. "We couldn't see eye to eye on something important. He's got this big fight coming up, and... I didn't agree with it. I was worried about him, and I guess he saw that as me not supporting him."

Doug nods slowly, rubbing his chin. "Let me guess—he's one of those 'if you don't ride with me all the way, you're against me' types?"

Ashanti sighs. "Something like that. I just... I didn't want to lose him to some reckless decision, you know? But maybe I pushed too hard."

Doug leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Nah, you were just being real with him. Sometimes dudes don't wanna hear it, but that doesn't mean you were wrong. If he couldn't handle you having a different opinion, that's on him."

She looks at him, her expression softening. "You think so?"

He nods firmly. "Yeah. Relationships are about balance, right? If you can't disagree without it blowing up, then it wasn't solid to begin with. Sounds like you tried to look out for him, and he wasn't ready for that."

Ashanti studies him for a moment, surprised by the depth in his response. "That's... actually good advice. Who are you and what did you do with the real Doug?"

He chuckles, leaning back in his chair. "Don't get used to it. I only drop gems like that once a week. But for real, don't beat yourself up over it. If it wasn't working, it wasn't working. Better to figure that out now than later."

She nods, letting his words sink in. For the first time all day, she feels a little lighter. "Thanks, Doug. I guess I needed to hear that."

Doug grins, flashing his signature charm. "Anytime. Now, let me get back to pretending like I care about this group project I'm avoiding."

Ashanti laughs, shaking her head as he pulls out his phone. Despite everything, she feels a little more grounded—and maybe even a little less alone.

As days go by Doug and Ashanti becomes tight